A Message from Orson Welles

Defying the direct orders of Davidson Taylor and CBS, The Mercury Theatre on the Air puts on the greatest Halloween show to ever play on broadcast radio.    Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart Ben Birmingham as Announcer and Various Radio Performers Stephanie Langford as Mother, Churchgoer#3, and Reporter #4 David Dean as Father, Officer #3 Aubrey Clyburn as Churchgoer #2 Michael Baran as Pastor and Sargent Jarrad Green as Various Radio Performers, Officer #2, Reporter #1 Chris Boike as Officer #1 Allegra Rodriguez Shivers as Officer #4 and Reporter #3 Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe   Sound Editing by Jason Crowe   Original Compositions by JD O’Dea   Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com   “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio “Etude No 1 For or String Quartet” by Peter Sandberg “Piano Concerto 1 in B Flat Minor” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky   Featuring Snippets of the actual “War of the Worlds” Broadcast.

The pot boils over as Orson attacks John Houseman in front of The Mercury Theatre on the Air, prompting Davidson Taylor to cancel the adaptation of War of the Worlds and substitute it with a rerun of their previous show.   Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart Renee Schwartz as Operator David Dean as Performer #1   Special Thanks to Alex Aguilar and Marion Arrou-Vignod   Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe   Sound Editing by Jason Crowe   Original Compositions by JD O’Dea   Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com. “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio “I’d Rather Be Alone” by Franz Gordon

After another all-nighter and a humiliating pitch meeting, Ora confronts Orson in his apartment and demands honesty, integrity, and transparency from here on out; lest the entire show falls apart.   Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart   Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe   Sound Editing by Jason Crowe   Original Compositions by JD O’Dea   Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com. “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio

A sleepless night raises tension among the ranks as Davidson Taylor comes calling for a script that isn’t ready; while the impending news of war encroaches the already stressful work and demands of Orson Welles.   Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart Joey Dechello as George Zorn Chris Boike as the Newscaster   Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe   Sound Editing by Jason Crowe   Original Compositions by JD O’Dea   Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com. “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio “Golden Age Radio” by Golden Age Radio “As Time Passes” by Golden Age Radio “As Soon as You Entered” by Golden Age Radio

War of the Worlds proves to be a tough nut to crack as John Houseman attempts to juggle the anxiety of the Mercury Theatre on the Air’s key performers and the ego of their leader, Orson Welles, as each grapple with the unadaptable story.     Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart Joey Dechello as George Zorn Renee Schwartz as Joan Aubrey Clyburn as Hostess, Shakespeare Performer, and Actor Stephen Bridgewater as The MC   Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe   Sound Editing by Jason Crowe   Original Compositions by JD O’Dea   Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com. “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio “Magic Awaits” by Howard Harper-Barnes “The Last Bar In Chicago” by Nicky Dowling “What Now” by Golden Age Radio “Brand New Sensations” by Wanda shakes “Bebop Cats” by Rossier

After a hectic Sunday performance, Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on the Air turn to the stars for guidance when it comes to creating an exciting radio play for the Columbia Broadcasting System's upcoming Halloween show.     Cast Ari Stidham as Orson Welles Keaton Talmadge as Ora Nichols Jim Brannigan as John Houseman Oscar Jordan as Davidson Taylor Courtney Reece as Anne Froelick Christopher Hodge as Howard Koch Rama Vallury as Paul Stewart Jarrad Green as Tommy Adam Cagly as the Taxi Driver       Produced by: Casey Hammons Daniel Patton Jordan Stidham S. Christian Roe       Sound Editing by Jason Crowe     Original Compositions by JD O’Dea     Supplemental tracks and sound effects were provided by EpidemicSound.com. “There You’ll Be” by Howard Harper-Barnes “Etude No. 1 For String Quartet” by Peter Sandberg “Steps in Time” by Golden Age Radio

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special announcement from Orson Welles, subject of The Martian Broadcast, an exciting audio drama from Soul Drifter Studios and Praelia Productions.